mcmoyer
Active member
I’m very new to foam board planes. I’ve been flying helicopters for 10 years, and foamie fixed wings for about 4 years now. I got tired of how expensive helicopters were with every little bump. Loved how I could easily repair foamies with a glue gun or foam-tac. Plus fixed wings are so much more relaxing to fly. Everything was great until I wanted a Spitfire in the middle of the pandemic. Everyone was out of stock.
That was when I found out about Flite Test. I ordered the MS Spitfire speed build kit. It took me a few days but it turned out really good. Then I tried to paint it. I think the best description about my paint job is “passable”. I enjoyed it enough that I subscribed to the FTCA. I got the plans for the Simple Stick and thought this is the perfect plane for me to build from plans. I went to the dollar store and got the $1 foam boards, cajoled my wife to print the plans at work and about 2 days later, I had a beautiful looking plane. I used colored electrical tape to add designs, and the tape actually stuck to the foam board.
I have been flying the snot out of this plane. This plane has given me a freedom that none of my other planes has given me. I try things on this plane first because I know that even if I destroy it, it’ll cost me about $3 in foam board to replace it. I’ve already had to go back to the plans and make replacement parts. Same with my Spitfire. I lost the battery hatch in flight. Couldn’t find it, so I just created a new one. I also have to admit, there’s also a bit of an ASMR feeling when you’re cutting the foam board.
I went to looking at what my next plane will be and saw the AT-6 on top of the list. It’s pretty good looking, but that combo price of $160 made me start realizing that there’s not a lot of difference between this and a foamie in price. Now that plans are no longer released, one of the biggest reasons to go the FT route is gone. Sure, I could keep my foam board skeletons and use them to trace, but that only gives me the outline.
Additionally, I have an Eflite 64mm F-16 that was doomed because it was my first EDF. It needs a new fuselage and wings from the last bad crash. When I saw John’s design on the store, I was pretty excited until I realized you only got the SBK and no plans. The replacement parts from eflite are just about the same price of the SBK. I’m not sure which way I’ll go with this. There seems to be no clear winner.
I‘ll still be subscribing to the FTCA because I believe in what they do for the community. I’d love to support them via purchasing SBK’s, but I have a feeling that my next new plane will end up being a foamie, or one of the many previously released FT plans or community designs.
That was when I found out about Flite Test. I ordered the MS Spitfire speed build kit. It took me a few days but it turned out really good. Then I tried to paint it. I think the best description about my paint job is “passable”. I enjoyed it enough that I subscribed to the FTCA. I got the plans for the Simple Stick and thought this is the perfect plane for me to build from plans. I went to the dollar store and got the $1 foam boards, cajoled my wife to print the plans at work and about 2 days later, I had a beautiful looking plane. I used colored electrical tape to add designs, and the tape actually stuck to the foam board.
I have been flying the snot out of this plane. This plane has given me a freedom that none of my other planes has given me. I try things on this plane first because I know that even if I destroy it, it’ll cost me about $3 in foam board to replace it. I’ve already had to go back to the plans and make replacement parts. Same with my Spitfire. I lost the battery hatch in flight. Couldn’t find it, so I just created a new one. I also have to admit, there’s also a bit of an ASMR feeling when you’re cutting the foam board.
I went to looking at what my next plane will be and saw the AT-6 on top of the list. It’s pretty good looking, but that combo price of $160 made me start realizing that there’s not a lot of difference between this and a foamie in price. Now that plans are no longer released, one of the biggest reasons to go the FT route is gone. Sure, I could keep my foam board skeletons and use them to trace, but that only gives me the outline.
Additionally, I have an Eflite 64mm F-16 that was doomed because it was my first EDF. It needs a new fuselage and wings from the last bad crash. When I saw John’s design on the store, I was pretty excited until I realized you only got the SBK and no plans. The replacement parts from eflite are just about the same price of the SBK. I’m not sure which way I’ll go with this. There seems to be no clear winner.
I‘ll still be subscribing to the FTCA because I believe in what they do for the community. I’d love to support them via purchasing SBK’s, but I have a feeling that my next new plane will end up being a foamie, or one of the many previously released FT plans or community designs.
